News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-09-29
FROM WASHINGTON.
from our Regular Correspondent.

his denomination as settled beyond
all dispute. There is no other alter
native for the party. The question
now with the slate makers is who to
run on the ticket with him, and the
field is being most thoroughly can
vassed with a great preponderance in
favor of Gen. Black, Commissioner
of Pensions. That he is the Presi-
dents choice goes without contradic-
ton. The pension question was
made prominent in the last Congress
by the Presidents numerous vetoes,
and the bad odor engendered thereby
still has an offensive smell in the nos
trils of the loyal people of the coun-
try. To overcome and counteract
that feeling some sort Of overtures
must be made, and hence the selec-
ton of Gen. Black, who had medi-
um military record, and occupies a
very close relation to the pensioners,
as the necessary sponge to absorb
and extinguish whatever of unpleas-
ant recollection may still linger among
the army boys and their friends.
Cleveland's one hundred and thirteen
vetoes of pension bills in the last ses-
sion settled nothing virtually but his
position, and that of his party, on
this question. The issue is still open
and there is abundant reason to be-
lieve that it will be pressed to the
front with more than usual vigor the
coming winter. It will be a knotty
question, but the administration will
be forced to meet it. 1t touches the
hearts and homes throughout the
broad land. Right, Justice, patriotic
sentiment, and expediency mix and
mingle in its consideration, and with
a small partisan margin in the next
Congress, Mr.. Cleveland must guard
we'll his prerogative of veto. No
doubt he breads the approaching win
ter, and if anything can be gathered
from the signs of the times, there are
good reasons for it. Gen. Black is
spending most of his time away and
in neglect of duty, attending re-
unions, manipulating receptions, and
posing generally as the most valuable
adjunct of the administration, the
great war factor of modern democra-
cy, drawing his hundred dollars a
month pension in addition to a good,
fat salary, while hundreds of widows |
and orphans of as gallant soldiers as
ever carried musket are wondering
how food and raiment will come.
Such miserable mockery ought not to
deceive longer, and thank heaven that
the day of full exposure is drawing
nigh. Shame on such pretenses.
Just now there is a good deal of
comment in official circles about the
sudden and unexpected resignation
of Assistant Secretary of State Por-
ter, and why he resigned and so I'M
tremendously, is mystery, and the
sharpest of newspaper men fail thus
far to get satisfactory clue. Gov.
Porter is an able man and held in
very high esteem. 1t has been init
mated for some time that the most
amicable feeling did not exist between
him and Secretary Bayard, but no one
expected such a sudden termination of
affairs Bayard is away enjoying the
hardships of well earned vacation,
and Porter takes the occasion to send
the President his resignation, pack
his grip-sack and start Immediately
for his Tennessee home. 1t is rather
an unusual proceeding and hence all
manner of gossip. Porter could tell
a good deal, if he would, about our
management of foreign affairs, and
perhaps he may; how Bayard, as on
several occasions, arched his spinal
column 10 quite an altitude, and then
in the most Inundated manner COL
lapsed. Up to this time the State
has little to boast of by
way of diplomacy, and less hope for
the future now that Gov. Porter has
gone.
The Civil Service Commission are
Rrangling now over a new set of
rules they want to formulate. This |
makes The fourth time that the rules
nave been doctored, and tinkered,
Ind twisted to fit current condition of d,
Iffairs. You see a lot of new Demo-
cratic Congressman will soon be here,
and each has a retenue of henchmen
who are hungering and thirsting for
place, and they must be provided for.
This can be done by making the rules
Of Civil Service examination a little
more ambiguous, and by the 'tpresto-
change process accomplish the pur-
pose without any difficulty. Quite
number of Confederate Brigadiers are
not provided for yet, and under the
present rules fixing the age limit at
Is years, they are debarred from APP
olication, discrimination that don't
accord with their naughty aspirations
Ind present needs. And now that
INIT is to be removed and principally
or their benefit. A French physician
lad full faith in the recovery of his ,
patient until he saw the lids of the {
offin screwed down and the under
aker carry the corpse away. Posi-
ly there are some civil service refor-
lers who have little faith in the prom }
yes and pretenses of a Democratic I
7
The tariff conclave which held sew !
raj sessions at Oak View, has adj
burned, and, it is understood, with q
Mt COMING tn anv very definitn rom :,